Tory MP urges statistics chief to resign over Brexit figures row

THE HEAD of Britain’s statistics watchdog has been urged to resign by a Conservative MP after accusing Boris Johnson of “misusing” official figures to highlight the benefits of Brexit.

Nadine Dorries claimed Sir David Norgrove was “playing politics” by publicly criticising the Foreign Secretary for reviving the controversial claim that up to £350m a week extra would be freed up for public spending after Brexit.

The claim first attracted criticism during the referendum campaign, when Mr Johnson was travelling around the country in a Vote Leave bus emblazoned with the slogan “We send the EU £350m a week let’s fund our NHS instead”.

Mr Johnson’s decision to revive it in a 4,000-word article at the weekend prompted UK Statistics Authority chairman Sir David to publish a letter saying he was “surprised and disappointed”, claiming it was a “clear misuse” of official figures.

Ms Dorries, the Brexit-backing Tory MP, called on Sir David to quit over the letter.

She tweeted: “David Norgrove, resign. You are not fit to be head of UK statistics when you deliberately play politics to deceive and distort basic facts.”

In another post, she accused Sir David of being another “voice of doom”, adding: “He will be warning us about 500,000 unemployed and an emergency budget, next”.

A Downing Street spokeswoman claimed Mr Johnson had “clarified” his views, which were already “well-known”.

Following Sir David’s initial letter, Mr Johnson accused the statistics chief of a “complete misrepresentation” of his views and called on him to withdraw the criticism.